Tecumseh's Summer named Player of the Year in Courier & Press' All-Southwestern Indiana softball team

Boonville's Wilson named Coach of the Year

The thing to remember about the 2013 softball season at Tecumseh High School isn't about how it ended, but where.

That was in a Class A state finals loss (10-3) to Lakewood Park Christian, although the Braves have almost become a fixture because of two of the players featured on this year's Courier & Press All-Southwestern Indiana Softball Team.

They include Player of the Year Tiffany Summers, a junior pitcher, and senior second baseman Allie Beard, who remade herself as a hitter.

Summers led Tecumseh (21-8) with a 20-8 record on the rubber and trailed only Beard at the plate, finishing the year batting .426 after a three-hit performance in the Class A title game.

"That's the thing about Tiffany," said Tecumseh coach Gordon Wood. "Not only is she in the top couple of pitchers around here, she's also our No. 3 hitter.

"She had three hits in the state championship game, which tied a record. She is a dominant pitcher who could play anywhere on the field."

Beard, the honor squad's second-leading hitter at .462, was also an outstanding second baseman who had just three errors over the last two years.

"Before this year she was a bunter and a slapper," said Wood. "Then she went to some hitting camp, came back with a new stance and just started pounding the ball all over the field. Her goal was to hit .500 and she almost made it."

Loogootee senior Gabrielle Richey, a candidate for Miss Softball, did hit over .500 with a .547 average and finished with a state record 172 career steals. The old record was 136.

"She was the fastest player I've ever seen on a softball field," said Wood. "She stole third against us standing up. But she was a complete player, not just fast."

Rounding out the infield were Gibson Southern junior Vailey Eberhard, a .405 hitter with 16 stolen bases, and South Spencer sophomore Beka Engelhardt, who hit .408 with 10 doubles and two home runs.

The Titans also added the team's designated player in Taylor Rogers (.438 seven doubles, four homers) and the Rebels have the team's catcher, freshman Maddie Dawson, who had 12 triples among her 19 extra-base hits.

"Dawson was a catcher who could hit and run," said Wood. "But the thing that really stands out on her is her arm. It's Division I all the way."

"Hannah is a left-handed leadoff who doesn't slap," said Boonville coach Mike Wilson. "But Jordan was the reason we turned our year around. We were 5-11 and stuck her in there and she produced."

Princeton senior Kennedy Christy, who spent most of her time catching, was the team's utility player with .386 average and four home runs.

The all-star squad's other two outfielders were transplants: North Posey junior Kelsey Owen, a .450 hitting shortstop, and Forest Park Senior Amanda Lange, a pitcher/infielder who hit .450 with 11 doubles.

Wilson, who continued his string of never having a losing season and winning his 600th game, was named Coach of the Year.